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N442DF, Grumman S-2T, Tanker-94 head-on, Firefighting Airtanker
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Code Number:
TAEV01P05_18
Title:
N442DF, Grumman S-2T, Tanker-94 head-on, Firefighting Airtanker
CDF - California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
CN: 295C

Date: 27-AUG-2001
Owner/operator: California Department of Forestry (CDF)
Registration: N442DF
Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities: 1
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Hopland, California - USA
Phase: En route
Nature: Fire fighting
Departure airport: Ukiah, California (UKI)
Destination airport: Ukiah, California (UKI)
Narrative:
During an aerial fire suppression mission for the California Department of Forestry (CDF), two Grumman TS-2A airplanes, operating as Tanker 92 (N442DF) and Tanker 87 (N450DF), collided in flight while in a holding pattern awaiting a retardant drop assignment on the wildfire. The Air Tactical Group Supervisor (AirTac) was orbiting clockwise 1,000 feet above the tankers, who were in a counterclockwise orbit at 3,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The collision appeared to have occurred about 2,500 feet, which was below orbit altitude. CDF had no standard operating manual, no established reporting or entry point for the holding orbits, and a fire bomber could enter any point of the orbit from any direction. While no standardized procedures were encoded in an operating manual, a CDF training syllabus noted that a fire bomber was not to enter an orbit until establishing positive radio contact with AirTac. The entering fire bomber would approach 1,000 feet below AirTac's altitude and stay in a left orbit that was similar to a salad bowl, high and wide enough to see and clear all other tankers until locating the fire bomber that it was to follow, then adjust speed and altitude to fall in behind the preceding aircraft.

The NTSB determined the probable causes of this accident as follows:
the failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout. The failure of the pilot in Tanker 87 to comply with suggested procedures regarding positive radio contact and orbit entry was a factor.

Sources:
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20010914X01949&key=1

Keywords:
Fire Dept, Departments, First Responder, Natural-Disaster, Grumman S-2, Prop, Propeller, Airplane, aircraft, Plane, Fixed wing multi engine, high-wing, Aviation, Stoof, Fire Bomber, Aerial Firefighting, Fire Suppression, Civil, Aviation, Civilian, fire fighting, Emergency, hull, equipment, Apparatus, Airtanker, Airtak
Image by:
Wernher Krutein
Caption Disclaimer
N442DF, Grumman S-2T, Tanker-94 head-on, Firefighting Airtanker
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Code Number:
TAEV01P05_18
Title:
N442DF, Grumman S-2T, Tanker-94 head-on, Firefighting Airtanker
CDF - California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
CN: 295C

Date: 27-AUG-2001
Owner/operator: California Department of Forestry (CDF)
Registration: N442DF
Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities: 1
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Hopland, California - USA
Phase: En route
Nature: Fire fighting
Departure airport: Ukiah, California (UKI)
Destination airport: Ukiah, California (UKI)
Narrative:
During an aerial fire suppression mission for the California Department of Forestry (CDF), two Grumman TS-2A airplanes, operating as Tanker 92 (N442DF) and Tanker 87 (N450DF), collided in flight while in a holding pattern awaiting a retardant drop assignment on the wildfire. The Air Tactical Group Supervisor (AirTac) was orbiting clockwise 1,000 feet above the tankers, who were in a counterclockwise orbit at 3,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The collision appeared to have occurred about 2,500 feet, which was below orbit altitude. CDF had no standard operating manual, no established reporting or entry point for the holding orbits, and a fire bomber could enter any point of the orbit from any direction. While no standardized procedures were encoded in an operating manual, a CDF training syllabus noted that a fire bomber was not to enter an orbit until establishing positive radio contact with AirTac. The entering fire bomber would approach 1,000 feet below AirTac's altitude and stay in a left orbit that was similar to a salad bowl, high and wide enough to see and clear all other tankers until locating the fire bomber that it was to follow, then adjust speed and altitude to fall in behind the preceding aircraft.

The NTSB determined the probable causes of this accident as follows:
the failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout. The failure of the pilot in Tanker 87 to comply with suggested procedures regarding positive radio contact and orbit entry was a factor.

Sources:
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20010914X01949&key=1

Keywords:
Fire Dept, Departments, First Responder, Natural-Disaster, Grumman S-2, Prop, Propeller, Airplane, aircraft, Plane, Fixed wing multi engine, high-wing, Aviation, Stoof, Fire Bomber, Aerial Firefighting, Fire Suppression, Civil, Aviation, Civilian, fire fighting, Emergency, hull, equipment, Apparatus, Airtanker, Airtak
Image by:
Wernher Krutein
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